WEDNESDAY

For the last two weeks Wednesday has been the most interesting day for me.  

Last week we saw the Kym Lardner performance at school and today we saw him again!! at Waimea primary school in Sandy Bay.  During the week Kym made contact with me.....  anyway to cut a long story short, he invited me to come along to this morning's performance to take a few photos for him! So Charlotte and I set off, camera in hand, to take a few shots.  I was very nervous but it was FUN.  He introduced me to the kids as his "Photographer friend".  I had to laugh (on the inside) because I've only had this camera for about 4 months and I don't even know how to use it properly yet (I need your help Chelsea).  I managed to get quite a few good shots though and he is going to use them for some publicity!! woohoo.  Anyway we now have the new CD,  His 'Kym Larnder' book which is a compliation of previous books,  and another copy of the DVD (it will be in tomorrow's post heading your way Bridey!!! - it's signed) all thanks to the generosity of Kym.  Pretty Cool hu?  Anyway I mentioned that I would like to write a kids book.  I've had a story in my head since I was a kid.  It's an adaptation of a story my dad told me when I was a little tacker.  Dad just made it up on the spot and I loved it.  As I've told it to my own kids over the last 13 years, it has gradually evolved and I think it would be a great book.  So I'm gonna do it!!  I don't care whether it gets published or not, I just want to write it - for me.  Kym said to send him a copy and he will do a mock up!!  You know what they say...It's who you know, not what you know!!!

We had a great day on Wednesday.  Our school had a visit from Kym Lardner (children's author and illustrator and storyteller).  If you aren't familiar with his work, get familiar, he's fantastic.  A few years ago my sister, Bridey, introduced his  work to me and so we bought some cd's.  They are so popular with our kids, everytime we go on a long (or long enough) trip they ask for 'McMuscles' or 'Bandaid' or 'Sunglasses'.  I have to admit I love them too!!!   At the beginning of term a newsletter came home from school with a list of 'dates to remember'.  When I saw 'April 1st - Kym Lardner Performance'  I was so excited.  Well he lived up to his reputation.  Despite having a difficult audience, he entertained with ease.  We had a ball.After the performance Charlotte and I spoke with Kym for about half an hour.  Charlotte informed Kym of everything going on in her life and that of her siblings at the moment.  She is such a social kid!  Well Kym loved her and so GAVE her one of his DVD's and a poster of his new book "The Naked Penguin" (both with signed inscriptions).  

Well if I haven't watched and heard the DVD about one hundred times since wednesday, my name's not Blanche!!!  It's amazing to watch Charlotte watching it...no matter how many times she hears the same jokes and funny stories, every time is like the first and she bursts out laughing and says "mum, you've gotta see this, it's so funny".

Anyway check him out, his dvd's, cd's and books are available from the ABC Shop.

AWWWW...

These gorgeous little bundles are one of the reasons why I haven't been blogging.  Rosie had her puppies on Jan

 2nd between 6 -9pm.  This was great tim

ing because it meant that the kids could watch them being born.  It was so amazing.  I have seen babies of many varieties being born but it never gets any less special.  It is such a wonderful thing.  Rosie is a fabulous mum, I didn't have to do anything, she did it all.  

All of the puppies were given names

 by us - Ollie, Edd, Spike, Buddy, Tom, Daisy, Maisy & Meg (who died at 1 day,  horrible day).  They all have new homes except for Edd.  

I think we are going to keep him.  

He's so keepable!

Edd then

Edd Now

Breeding puppies is a very involved business - and expensive!  But it has been so much fun.  It's such a nice feeling being able to place a beautiful puppy with a family who are desperate for a pet.  Labradoodles are the best family dog.  They don't shed, they're smart, they are very social and extremely gentle, and they are absolutely gorgeous to boot!

That's it for us though, no more breeding.  Rosie has had her 'operation' and is getting her sutures out today.

WELCOME TO THE TEEN SCENE!!!!!!!!!

Well it's official....I'M OLD!

Isaac turned 13 this month.  12th March was the day.  It has been a very busy month in our house.  March is the busiest as far as birthdays go - we have 7 of them, plus a special teenage birthday and a baptism this time around.  It has all been so exciting and really special but at the same time I am really happy for a new month to start.  

Isaac invited some new (and old) high school friends for a sleepover.  Bella, Charli and Reubs went to 'The Farm' (my mum & dad's) so they wouldn't cramp the 'big' boys style.  Matt and I took the boys to Pizza Hut for all you can eat where one of the boys decided to test out just how much was 'all you can eat'.  I guess he found out after a quick trip to the loos to spew back out the portion he couldn't eat!!! Better there than in my house I reckon!!!  They had a night of games and movies and talking.  It was really nice to get to know Isaac's friends a little better.  I slept really well that night knowing that he had made some great choices in the friend department.  He's a good boy, my Isaac.

WHAT DOES IMMERSION MEAN, BELLA?

This is the question one of Bella's school friends asked her one

 day.  Bella invited four of her girlfriends to her baptism.  The invites sparked many questions, not only from her

 friends but also from their mothers.  It was wonderful to be able to share parts of the gospel with our friends be

cause of Bella's choice to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptised.

I love these photos.  The first one is my favourite.

  I love that Matt is in the background and you can see the font.  It captures so many elements of what baptism is.

Bella with her friends (and two of the mums)

It was a beautiful Baptism for a beautiful girl.

Bella's Big Day

On Monday 23rd March Bella turned 8!!

In the morning Bella excitedly opened her pressies and received phone calls from absent family.   She took yummy cupcakes to share with her friends from school and in the evening Bella chose where went for dinner - Hogsbreath!!  You just can't beat those curly fries.

I can't believe how quickly times goes by.  It just seems like such a short time ago I said "Don't go to work today Matt,  I think I'm gonna have the baby!"  and now she's 8!!

Bella is growing into such a beautiful girl,  she's so helpful and kind and full of life. 

I Love You Bella x

OOPS!!!!!

I have been unbelievably slack.

Actually,  prior to Christmas I was feeling very much like I needed some change so... I quit my job!  It felt so good.  Little did I know that wasn't the end of the change.   I was released from my beloved Stake YW calling :(   and called to serve as 2nd counselor in RS.  I am responsible for Enrichment.  Funny thing is that Bridey was called to the same calling in her ward on the same day !!  Great,  now I will have someone to steal ideas from, ya.  Anyway because I have had a bit more time on my hands I made a loooooong list of things to do:

• more play time with Charlotte (every day)
  
• go to story time at the library each week
  
• spend some more time in the kids' classrooms
• start playing netball again
  
• start swimming again ( I miss it so much)
  
• get into my garden
  
• finish my two new vegie patches
  
• finish painting the kitchen
  
• do some sewing
  
• etc
  
• etc
  

somewhere at the bottom of the list was:

• update my blog!!
  

So...over the next week I am going to attempt to make time to begin the update (see, even the way I wrote that is giving myself an 'out' if I need it...I think I have blog committment issues)

Tomorrow Isabella turns 8 and on Saturday she is getting baptised!! So I will have some exciting things to blog about.

Till then..................